Page 74 of Good Enough

“Got it. I’ll get Steel on a plane and out playing Hansel to Ka-Bar’s Gretel, plus start tracing back all the mail going out of the embassy from that day forward. If I strike out, I’ll search all packages going through the public services from the embassy outward.”

“And Midas?”

“Needed yesterday. Got it?” Midas’ face winked out from the screen, and there was quiet.

“She gonna be okay, Boss?” That came from Demon.

Waters nodded. “Yeah. I’ll be stuck to her side whether Big Bird comes down or not, but I’m pretty sure he’ll book himself on the first flight after her call. He’ll take over my space, and I’ll bunk with Kubrick.”

“He’ll love that,” Nemo quipped. “He already loves you so much.”

“Don’t care. She’s my primary concern, not dickwad.” He shook his head in frustration. A selfish part of him couldn’t help thinking this might derail his plans for tonight. While it gave him the perfect excuse not to hide his relationship with her in front of the others, in truth, he wasn’t exactly sure how she’d take the thought that they’d been invaded. His entire being was screaming at him to lock her down, to hell with her movie, but he knew that was never going to happen. As long as they were all vigilant, it was clear that the intruders hadn’t found whatever they were looking for, and they could manage to keep her secure.

If they never got together as planned, he’d still be close to her. That was all that mattered in the long run. And frightening as that was, he couldn’t find it within him to care.

24

MARCH 7TH

Kai

A little over an hour later, Waters returned to her side at the dock. Slowly, over the past weeks, his face had become more open, his posture less ramrod straight, and his movements easier. Right now, he was in full operator mode and as tense as the first day she met him.

Okay, scary G.I. Joe is back. That’s not good.

“What happened?”

She watched him scan the lakeshore left and right, then narrow his eyes to look to the far side of the lake. “We had a break-in,” he murmured. “They trashed the War Room and your room. Your laptop is gone.”

“Shit.” She looked out across the water. “You had security measures up at the house. That’s why you took off.”

He didn’t acknowledge her statement, which was confirmation enough. “They didn’t touch the rest of the house, so it’s very clear your belongings were the target.” His jaw tic was back. “I didn’t want to worry you, but someone also searched your trailer back at the studio. That was a more methodical search, but then again, they knew there was little chance of being interrupted since you were already here. The security on the lots is pretty much shit, even though there are so many ‘secret’ things there and celebrities running around. Way too predictable and definitely not enough bodies.”

“So, someone thinks I have something they want.”

“Yes.”

“And you still think this is connected to Ka-Bar?”

“It’s our best lead.”

“The package I was supposed to pick up in Cairo. Could it be that?”

“Crossed my mind.”

“Then I need to call the embassy and find out if Agent Carter has come back, if he has it, and if he sent it.”

Waters seemed to consider this plan. “I’m not sure that’s the best idea. Someone’s probably watching for that. Possibly even listening in somehow.”

“What do you suggest?”

“Midas, my computer guy, found a very weak clue to suggest an area where Ka-Bar was when he disappeared. We think the ambassador he was tight with might have supplied him with exit contacts because he couldn’t get to his own materials. I’m sending one of my teammates to check out the area.”

“All the way to Cairo?”

Waters nodded. “This is an in-person issue. He should be there shortly. We have a general area where we think he might have been lying low. Steel might get lucky enough to find something if Ka-Bar was able to leave behind a breadcrumb to lead us to the next step of finding him. After this length of time, it’s clear that whatever exit strategy he had was unsuccessful.” He apologized. “Sorry. This is really the first chance I’ve had to fill you in on all that.”

She waved him off. “Not accusing you of holding back anything. I know you’ll tell me what you can when you can.”

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